Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-11-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 1887

One of the loveliest places about
Washington is the National Gene
terry at Arlington, just across the
river. 1t is the old historic home
stead of the Curtis family, where
Washington married Martha. It
was also the home of General Lee,
at the breaking out of the rebellion
and was confiscated by the Govern
ment, but subsequently purchased
from the Lee heirs by the United
States at a cost of s25O,0O0. Nine
teen thousand Union soldiers lie
buried here. The grounds are laid
out in broad avenues shaded by
primeval oaks and towering elms,
and the drives and winding walks
amid the flowers and leafy dells and
ravines that overlook the Capital
City, present IA view of unparalleled
magnificence. There is always
throng of visitors there, and the
stranger within our gates who fails
to visit Arlington, loses one of the
loveliest scenes in all the land.
Another place of surprising
beauty is Oak Hill Cemetery, situat-
ed on Rock Creek, In what is known
locally as West Washington, but in
former times as the old city of
Georgetown. Way back, years ago,
Georgetown was an important place,
and was made the first port of Ell.
try under the establishment of the
Federal constitution. 1t is a dingy
looking place now, with population
of about 1900 with a large prepond-
erance of the colored element. The
citizens show little enterprise com
pared with the balance of the Dis
trict, and during the war it was en-
phatically the secession hot bed of
this section. Nature made here the
loveliest burial place the eye ever
rested upon, which has been most
beautifully adorned by the lavish ex-
penditure of large sums. 1t is
handsomely laid out in terraces
giving the most enchanting and
picturesque views of hill and valley
and vista. Eight thousand are
buried here, many of whom achieved
great reputation in craftsmanship,
literature and art, and won imperish-
able renown in defending the Ma
TONS flag on sea and land. A walk
amid its shady bowers, polished
marble, gentle cascades, and spark
ling fountains, inspires thought,
softens nature, and melts the heart.
What lovely place is Oak Hill.
Thousands every Sabbath seek this
Elysian retreat, and hold sweet COM
munion with the Beautiful Beyond.
The Washington Navy Yards
having been changed to an ordin
ance plant, necessitates a large
amount of new machinery. There
is now being built for use, among
numerous other things, six huge iron
lathes, 100 feet in length, and weigh
ing 500 tons each. They are models
of inventive genius, aud are so con-
stucted that work on both the out
side and inside of the mammoth
guns may be carried on at the same
time. Three of these guns are
nearly completed, are nearly thirty
feet in length, and will throw
twelve inch projectile distance of
ten miles with marvellous precision.
The Secretary of the Navy Depart
ment is entitled to much credit for
his persistent effort to give us
Navy worthy of the American Ma
ton, and it is hoped that Congress
will not be parsimonious in making
the needed appropriations. A large
Japanese naval party, who are in
specting the navies of the world, will
be here this week to see what we
can show.